Monday, 25 June 2012

New Avatar Comicbook Series Announced: The Search!

CBR News: Gene, the last time you spoke with CBR,
"The Promise: Part One" hadn't been released yet and "Avatar" fans were
still chomping at the bit for "Legend of Korra." Now, "The Promise:
Part Two" has just dropped and "Legend of Korra" just aired its season
finale. First off, as a fan of the series, how have you been enjoying
"Legend of Korra?"Gene Luen Yang: I've loved every episode of "Legend of Korra"
so far. The animation in the original show was great, but the Korra
stuff is really in a league of its own. The bending fights are nothing
short of spectacular. And also there's this dynamic -- all our old
friends from the first show are now legends. So far, we've seen statues
of Aang, Zuko and Toph. It reminds us of something that's true in the
real world, too -- the actions of a few, even a few teenagers, can have
big consequences down the road.
Of all the Korra characters, my favorite is probably Tenzin. I appreciate how different he is from his dad. I like that he's so uptight. And with kids of my own, I really relate to what he has to deal with.

This weekend, you announced "The Search" as the next miniseries in
the "Avatar" series of Dark Horse's graphic novels. As a fan of the
original "Avatar: The Last Airbender" series, I'd really love that title
to refer to Zuko's long-lost mother -- what can you tell us about the
significance of the title?
I'm not totally sure how much I'm allowed to say -- but you're right!
It's really, really surreal. Like every other "Airbender" fan out
there, I gasped at the end of that scene in the last episode, where Zuko
confronts Ozai. How could Mike and Bryan just leave us hanging like
that?! In the last episode, with no immediate plans for resolution! And
now, for me to have a hand in answering some of those questions -- like I
said, surreal.

Beyond the title of the book, is there anything you can tell fans
about the storyline of "The Search" and where it'll take Team Avatar?
I've always loved the supernatural elements of the Avatarverse. The
Season 1 finale was one of my favorite sequences in the series. We
didn't really do much supernatural in "The Promise" since that story was
focused on the political ramifications of the War's end. But I'm happy
to say, writing "The Search" is giving me the chance to explore that
side of Aang and his world.

"The Promise" has been a continuation of the "Avatar: The Last
Airbender" story, featuring a closer look at the politics that are
involved in the world's reconstruction. Will "The Search" continue to
explore the political side of the Avatar's world or will you be taking
it in a slightly different direction?
The politics will be there -- they're difficult to avoid when one of
your main characters is the leader of a large nation. However, we'll be
shifting our focus from the nation to the family.
Within Confucian thought, there's a connection between nation and
family -- the family is a microcosm of the nation. I actually reference
that in "The Search."

One of the great things about "The Promise" is how faithful to the
source material the book has been. As you've been building this story,
how challenging has it been to continue developing the characters in
your own way while still staying true to their core?
This project is different from my other projects. With "American Born
Chinese," "Prime Baby" and my other books, I was really trying to
express something about me. I wanted what was on paper to match what was
in my head. With the "Airbender" project, I'm trying to mimic someone
else's storytelling voice. I don't want the characters to grow in a
direction that suits me or expresses something about me -- I want them
to grow in a direction that fits their world and their established
history.
Now, that's not to say that there isn't room for self-expression, but
the self-expression occurs where my passions overlap with the
Avatarverse. For instance, a recurring theme in many of my stories is
culture. That's also a deeply important part of the Avatarverse, and the
basis for a lot of what happens in "The Promise."

This line of graphic novels is meant to fill in the gaps between
the final episode of "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and the premiere of
"Legend of Korra. So far, we've gotten a chance to see Toph's metal
bending academy and Aang's struggle to unite the nations. How will this
struggle increase in "The Promise: Part 3" and into "The Search?"
"The Search" focuses on Zuko and Azula. Aang, Katara and Sokka will
be there, of course, but the Fire Nation royal siblings are really the
drivers of the action.
In "The Promise," we see Zuko struggling with his responsibilities as
Fire Lord. "The Search" is the next stage of that struggle.

One of the advantages of "Legend of Korra" is the plethora of
flashbacks audiences get, seeing Aang, Sokka and Toph come into their
own as leaders of Republic City -- but even in the flashbacks, they're
significantly older than in the original series. What's your plan for
making these characters age, if any?
Those are my favorite parts of "Korra!" In "The Search," the Gang are
still teenagers. "The Search" takes place immediately after the end of
"The Promise."

You're still working with Gurihiru studio for "The Search." How
did you collaborate with them to change up character designs a bit?
Gurihiru's art in "The Promise" is phenomenal, isn't it? I feel so
lucky to be working with them. I believe they are the perfect
combination of Eastern and Western cartooning influences, which in turn
is a perfect reflection of "Avatar: The Last Airbender." They work more
directly with Mike and Bryan on character designs, especially when it
comes to new clothing for existing characters. I throw in a comment when
I can (usually "WOW!").

Two characters of the original Team Avatar have been conspicuously
absent from the "Legend of Korra" flashbacks. Most pressing is Zuko,
who currently plays a huge role in "The Promise." While I'm sure you're
not able to spoil much here, will we get to discover why his influence
hasn't been seen in Republic City at all during the course of "The
Search?"
Um... you'll just have to read the comics.

Speaking of Zuko, he can't catch a break. After all the heartache
he went through in the original series, he's now getting drawn back in
to his father's web, Mai has left him and the Earth Kingdom is about to
declare war. What are the chances he'll be able to find some happiness
when this is all over?
Well, like Ozai said, "Zuko was lucky to be born." That struggle is
who he is. Don't you know people who are like that? I have an
acquaintance who is like that. Great guy, but life just seems to have it
in for him -- his health,
his relationships, nothing seems to go his way. Even so, you can see
him making progress over the years. Often it's two steps forward, one
step back, but when you take the long view there's definitely progress.
That's how I imagine Zuko to be. And frankly, I find folks like that
more admirable than folks who get everything handed to them.

Speaking of Zuko's family, what's Azula been up to? Her stay in
the Fire Nation mental institution has got to be incredibly interesting.
In "The Search," we'll see what a prolonged stay in a Fire Nation mental institution does to a person.

Katara and Aang's burgeoning relationship is certainly something
fans were clamoring for since the announcement of "The Promise." Thanks
to "Legend of Korra," fans now know they get married and have a child,
but what trials will their relationship have to go through before
getting to that point?
At the beginning of "The Promise," Katara and Aang are still in that
lovey-dovey stage of their relationship. They call each other pet names
and are way too affectionate. By the end of "The Promise," they will
have gone through their first conflict. Their relationship will continue
to mature in The Search, but it will take a backseat to the Fire Nation
Royal Family. After all, that is one messed up family. They need all
the panel-time they can get.

So, Toph eventually has a daughter. Will readers actually get to
see what Toph is like in a relationship in "The Search?" What is it like
knowing you may have to explore that aspect of her character in coming
installments?
I love Toph. She was my favorite character to write in The Promise. Sadly, though, she doesn't have a big role to play in The Search.

And for a slightly silly question, what about Cabbage Corp? You've
already dropped a few references to the incredibly unlucky cabbage
merchant -- are there plans to chronicle his rise to power in the
background?
It's an inspiring story, isn't it? An unlucky cabbage merchant,
through elbow grease and sheer will power, grows his one cart into a
huge, multi-generational corporation! That guy is my hero! http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=39354